The coronavirus crisis has seen a surge in the interest in camping. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Britain’s biggest outdoors retailer said it is expecting a surge in customers’ interest in camping.

GO Outdoors has opened most of its stores and will re-open three more on Monday.

It said interest in camping has been high during lockdown, with many customers buying gear to use in their gardens. Sales of outdoor clothing and equipment, along with bicycles, have also been high, with many people walking or cycling as part of their permitted exercise.

Overnight stays away from home, including camping, are not generally permitted yet, but the industry is looking for an increased demand for camp equipment as UK residents opt for staycations rather than overseas holidays. At present, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising against all trips abroad that are not essential.

Lee Bagnall, chief executive of GO Outdoors and Blacks Outdoors Retail Limited, both part of the JD Sports Fashion company, said: “Over recent weeks it’s been fascinating to see continued public interest in the camping sector as the outdoors remains a key part of our British leisure and recreational culture, albeit with restrictions in place.

“People have been taking advantage of the sunny weather of late, opting to camp out in their back gardens throughout lockdown.

“We’ve seen this elsewhere, with our customers choosing to spend their daily exercise walking and cycling – reflected in the sales of our walking gear and especially bikes.

“For many, camping will mean rediscovering the pleasures of childhood holidays this summer, and for some this will be their first experience of holidaying in the outdoors. We hope by experiencing the delights that camping in the UK has to offer, this will encourage more people in the future, post-coronavirus, to embrace the British outdoors and to in turn boost the British economy.”

GO Outdoors is the UK's biggest outdoor gear retailer

Dave Addy, a buyer for the company, said: “Throughout lockdown we have seen huge demand for anything that people can use in the garden, from coolers to gazebos and shelters, barbecues, hot-tubs, tables and chairs, as well as smaller tents.

“Demand from consumers spiked each time we promoted garden campouts in aid of NHS staff and appeared to surge the week that Boris Johnson eased lockdown restrictions in England.

“The time we’ve been spending outdoors has encouraged many new consumers to try camping at home, which we hope will have developed a passion amongst this audience who will go on to try a ‘proper’ camping staycation over the coming months, once campsites are permitted to open.

“Now that stores are re-opening and the outlook around camping is becoming clearer by the week, we expect to see a further increase in demand for family camping items.

“Some of our best sellers will be air tents, air mats and beds, sleeping bags and of course cooking equipment. Furthermore, there will be a new focus on camping toilets and showers for those seeking a self-contained camping setup. As a business we are confident that demand will surpass the same period last year, as our customers look to enjoy a traditional staycation this summer.”

Sheffield-based GO Outdoors briefly rebranded itself GO Indoors to support the government’s pleas to stay at home. JD Sports Fashion Group employs more than 50,000 people worldwide and had a £4.7bn turnover in 2019, increasing its pre-tax profits by more than 15 per cent, to almost £340m. The Pentland Group, which owns the Berghaus brand, is a majority shareholder in the company.